Prabuddha Bharat Conference: The Social Relevance of Buddhism,25th and 26th October, 2012

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to reconstruct society and create conditions for the development of a true democracy. The foundations of democracy are liberty, equality and fraternity, which to him were primarily ethical attitudes: in order to be effective in the political sphere, they had to be cultivated and practiced in the individual and social spheres.

In this conference, through talks and discussion, we explored the implications of liberty, equality and fraternity, as Buddhist ethical attitudes, from the following perspectives:

1. Creating Democracy.

Babasaheb was convinced that Buddhism could make a significant contribution to the establishment of democracy in India. In this section we explored the contributions that Buddhism and Buddhists, especially those inspired by Babasaheb, can make in this respect.

2. Individual Empowerment.

How does Buddhist practice strengthen us as individuals, not in a selfish sense, but enabling us to contribute more effectively to the creation of a better world? This is the principle behind the Paramitas, the practice of a Bodhisattva, which was emphasised by Babasaheb in the 22 Vows and the Buddha and His Dhamma.

3. Social Reconstruction.

Many people are contributing to the implementation of Babasaheb’s great vision for society, but to what extent are they able to reconstruct their own work and immediate social lives in accordance with that vision? While many sincerely want to “walk the talk”, there are many difficulties and confusions in the way. In this section we explored the basic Buddhist principles of social reconstruction in the light of our own experience of work.

Welcome to Nagaloka

Nagaloka is a Buddhist training and conference centre located in Nagpur India. The 15-acre campus provides a residential training course for young Buddhists and hosts a variety of classes, meetings and international conferences. It is also a pilgrimage site where thousands of Indian Buddhists come to see the famous Walking Buddha statue.